Writing Project- Nats101 Intro to Global Change (Spring 2005)

February 28 (Monday)

Topics will be assigned before noon, March 2, and posted on web site. You will investigate your assigned problem/issue to learn about the issues involved, different perspectives, and the negative (if any) and positive (if any) aspects of the “problem” or issue. Your ultimate goal is to write a narrative that reads like a Chamber of Commerce brochure and makes your ASSIGNED specific advocacy seem attractive, i.e., you will write a well-crafted, interesting, rosy, and plausible-as-possible description/advertisement that will “sell” your advocacy, using whatever real facts or “spinned” facts that support your view (your strong command of global change topics can really help you in this, BUT YOU CANNOT “MAKE UP” FACTS). Pretend that you have been paid big bucks (money) by a big multi-national conglomerate to write it, and that your life to this point has been one non-stop barrage of advertisements and commercials to sell you toys, fast food, clothes, jewelry, cars, houses, soft drinks, and all kinds of other things without which they make you think you cannot live. An “A” paper will make the presented advocacy the greatest thing since sliced bread.

March 23 (Wednesday)

Turn in (due by class time) a typewritten

(1) list of at least 4 RELEVANT* references from web, books, journals, magazines that you have found that describe the scientific topic (for web sources, give full web address that would allow others to find it exactly). [*RELEVANT web references are needed, not superfluous references with little or no content]

(2) imaginative and compelling title of your paper

(3) brief outline (3 or 4 points that reveal your approach and emphasis are sufficient)

April 4 (Monday)

Turn in (due by class time):

A. Lists of legitimate and accurate facts/aspects of your problem/issue; make 2 columns, one with positive and one with negative aspects (use successive columns if you cannot do side-by-side columns)

B. Typewritten polished draft of paper (including Bibliography or “Literature Consulted”):

(1) Two typewritten pages of text introduced with your title and followed by bibliography

(2) Double-spaced (not 2 1/2- or triple spacing); 12-point type; 1-inch margins all around

C. One paragraph explaining the major flaws/weaknesses/drawbacks in your advocacy

They will be reviewed and later returned to you with comments to guide your improvement

April 15 (Friday)

Your polished draft will be returned to you in class from instructor/TAs with review comments; You will then begin final revision of your paper

April 22 (Friday)

Turn in (due by class time)

(1) your first typewritten draft with instructor/TA comments (title;text;bibliography;+s/−s)

(2) your final typewritten paper with all parts and revisions (title;text;bibliography;+s/−s)